EU and US E. coli O104:H4 update – 31 Dead, 3,086 Ill – 798 with HUS

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control reports that Since 2 May 2011, 795 cases of HUS and 2287 non-HUS STEC cases have been reported from European Union Member States, including 759 HUS cases and 2229 non-HUS STEC cases in Germany. There are reports of 4 illnesses in U.S. (3 with HUS). 22 of the HUS cases and 9 non-HUS STEC cases in EU Member states have died. See table below.

While HUS, caused by STEC infections, is usually observed in children under 5 years of age, in this outbreak the great majority of cases are adults, with around two thirds being women. The outbreak has been linked to locally grown, organic sprouts.